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Economy

Posts on the economy, work, business, income, and labour

Categories under Economy

$58 billion verses democracy: Bouganville

Written By: - Date published: 8:30 am, February 14th, 2019 - 5 comments

There’s trouble on the horizon in Bouganville with its government proposing significant changes to its mining law to allow wide scale mining on the island.

Spark vs Spooks

Written By: - Date published: 1:47 pm, February 13th, 2019 - 66 comments

Spark wants Huawei’s 5G technology because its the best and the cheapest. The GCSB spooks don’t want us to have it because 5Eyes and because the US has yanked their chain. The Prime Minister says no decision has been made – the media and the world think it is a goneburger. We should support New Zealand’s Spark, not US corporate interests.

Should We Fear Judith Collins?

Written By: - Date published: 10:34 am, February 12th, 2019 - 130 comments

So, it turns out Simon’s a dud. What do the Tories do about it? And can Judith Collins really make a difference?

Sheepgate the final chapter

Written By: - Date published: 7:38 am, February 12th, 2019 - 44 comments

The final chapter of the Saudi Sheepgate saga has now been written with David Parker pulling the pin on the deal and saving the country $1 million.

Ardern’s state of the nation speech

Written By: - Date published: 11:15 am, February 8th, 2019 - 56 comments

The text of Jacinda Ardern’s speech delivered this morning.

Herald and Du Plessis-Allan present compelling argument in favour of industry wide bargaining

Written By: - Date published: 7:48 am, February 4th, 2019 - 26 comments

Heather Du Plessis-Allan has written as compelling an article in favour of the the Government’s proposed industry wide negotiations as you could ever think possible.

Trump’s brilliant strategy to dismantle US dollar hegemony

Written By: - Date published: 5:05 pm, February 3rd, 2019 - 56 comments

Polymath economist Professor Michael Hudson’s latest article is a geopolitical panoramic masterpiece, sparked by outrage at a series of concurrent events on January 31 which he predicts means that 2019 will be the “year of global fracture.” Definitely worth a read.      

Westpac becomes accredited living wage employer

Written By: - Date published: 9:41 am, February 1st, 2019 - 33 comments

Westpac Bank has agreed to become an accredited living wage employer which means that its contractors as well as its staff are to be paid a living wage.

Fair Pay Agreements

Written By: - Date published: 9:23 am, January 31st, 2019 - 36 comments

The Working Group on Wage Bargaining reform has reported back. Good news for the working poor, bad news for the filthy rich.

Show us the money Simon

Written By: - Date published: 9:06 am, January 31st, 2019 - 82 comments

Hopefully the media will ask of National the tough questions, like how it is going to increase spending in critical areas, pay down debt and give us a tax cut at the same time.

A detailed analysis of Simon Bridges’ state of the nation speech

Written By: - Date published: 4:59 pm, January 30th, 2019 - 88 comments

As a public service the writers of the Standard provides you with this in depth analysis of the contents of Simon Bridges’ state of the nation speech delivered this afternoon.

The world cannot afford to have billionaires

Written By: - Date published: 8:48 am, January 30th, 2019 - 246 comments

American politician Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez has said that it is immoral to have a world that allows for billionaires. She may well be right.

Does the West Coast Regional Council Exist?

Written By: - Date published: 3:14 pm, January 29th, 2019 - 48 comments

Does the West Coast Regional Council actually exist? Te Reo Putake’s submission on the Zero Carbon Bill says the science is unproven.

Trump’s Worst Day

Written By: - Date published: 12:08 pm, January 26th, 2019 - 141 comments

The Trump shutdown is over, as the doofus President waves the white flag. And in Florida, his trusted advisor Roger Stone is led away in handcuffs to face charges of lying to the Mueller enquiry. Good times, people, good times!

Venezuela Coup

Written By: - Date published: 8:54 am, January 24th, 2019 - 280 comments

A coup attempt is underway in Venezuala. Opposition leader Juan Guaidó has declared himself interim President. There is no immediate response from President Nicholas Maduro, who appears to still retain the support of the military.

National starts political year beneficiary bashing

Written By: - Date published: 11:14 am, January 22nd, 2019 - 70 comments

National has kicked off the year by reverting to type and engaging in a classic example of beneficiary bashing based on a distortion of official statistics.

Enter Sandmann

Written By: - Date published: 8:32 pm, January 21st, 2019 - 220 comments

The young racist who was filmed smugly grinning at a native American elder has put out a statement justifying his actions. Trump will be proud. Bigly proud.

Karma Cameleon

Written By: - Date published: 2:40 pm, January 21st, 2019 - 120 comments

Cameron Slater is seriously ill. The Whale Oil blog will carry on without him, but in the meantime, Cam is asking for help.

Sroubek; Richie Hardcore Text Released

Written By: - Date published: 3:12 pm, January 18th, 2019 - 54 comments

The text sent by Karel Sroubek supporter Richie Hardcore has been released. Is it the knock out blow we were promised?

National shafted us with the MOM privatisation

Written By: - Date published: 7:20 am, January 17th, 2019 - 318 comments

Five years on how are the benefits from the Mixed Ownership Model privatisation process the last Government engaged in working out?

Beware the Ides of May

Written By: - Date published: 11:09 pm, January 15th, 2019 - 41 comments

It’s D Day for Theresa May’s Brexit plan. Will Jeremy Corbyn finally put her out of our misery?

Peters to Pence on the Pacific – a return to colonialism?

Written By: - Date published: 9:38 pm, January 14th, 2019 - 120 comments

Winston Peters went to Washington last December to see US VP Mike Pence and invited the US to engage more in the South-West Pacific without informing Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern. Patrick Smellie described this apparent oversight as “deeply worrying.” Even more worrying is what Peters said when he was there.

Cops ♥ Chases

Written By: - Date published: 8:35 pm, January 14th, 2019 - 215 comments

The common factor in Police chases is adrenaline fueled driving. And not just by the kid in the stolen car. The Police strategy of chasing stolen cars is a bigger problem than the thefts themselves and it needs to stop. Now.

How To Get There 13/1/19

Written By: - Date published: 7:00 am, January 13th, 2019 - 153 comments

Welcome to TS’s Sunday think piece. It’s a blank sheet, a tabula rasa, waiting for your thoughts on the future and How To Get There.

President Peaches

Written By: - Date published: 11:22 am, January 12th, 2019 - 150 comments

I’m moving to the country, gonna eat a lot of peaches! Donald Trump has yet another bizarro, almost Freudian, moment as his threat to invoke a national emergency to fund his wall falls flat. Peaches, people! Not impeachment, peaches!!!

Legalize it!

Written By: - Date published: 9:55 am, January 12th, 2019 - 51 comments

A new poll shows solid support for legalising cannabis. Is the 2020 referendum a done deal?

New Zealand needs a Government that understands climate change

Written By: - Date published: 9:58 am, January 10th, 2019 - 47 comments

In an opinion piece in Stuff National Spokesperson on climate change Todd Muller has cast doubt on National agreeing to a political consensus on climate change.

Brexit: Tories Lose Control of the House and the Process

Written By: - Date published: 8:50 am, January 10th, 2019 - 67 comments

Another day, another humiliating defeat for Theresa May. Surprisingly,  the news is no better for Jeremy Corbyn.

Mood of the workforce shows urgent need for change

Written By: - Date published: 8:00 am, January 8th, 2019 - 81 comments

The CTU has released the results of its recent cost of living and income survey. The results suggest that urgent change is needed.

Julian Assange and the Streisand Effect.

Written By: - Date published: 6:45 pm, January 7th, 2019 - 161 comments

Wikileaks has tried to silence media organisations on behalf of Julian Assange. Why is a ‘transparency’ organisation opposed to free speech and have they made things worse for the Aussie hacker?

UPDATE: The list has been leaked. Link in post.

The wonder of e-bikes and e-scooters

Written By: - Date published: 7:00 am, January 6th, 2019 - 20 comments

The rise of cycleways, e-bikes, and e-scooters is steadily revolutionising commutes around Auckland, especially Central Auckland. Like public transport the economic reasons for commuters are easy to understand. You don’t get ridiculous parking costs or the lousy variable commute times of fat footprint cars jammed up on crowded roads.